понедельник, 7 мая 2012 г.

Games

Games

Penny Time - Screenshots

Posted: 07 May 2012 04:28 AM PDT

Set in a post-retro game world not too far removed from suburbia, the player soon discovers that their Penny board has the ability to freeze time. You'll ollie, hippy jump and power-slide your way under, through and over obstacles to victory, and choose whether you cash in your earnings along the way or risk it all by playing increasingly difficult areas for even greater points. Each of the game's unique levels feature two gameplay modes which will immerse and challenge both casual and experienced players alike.

Zombie Outbreak Simulator - Screenshots

Posted: 07 May 2012 04:05 AM PDT

With new iOS exclusive features, you can now zoom in and out on the action to keep track of the infection as it spreads across the map! Watch from a high satellite view to get an overview of the infection, represented by green dots for civilians, red for zombies and blue for police. Or zoom right in and watch as civilians run for their lives, shoot at zombies and inevitably become infected. Keep track of the people's only hope - local law enforcement, as they fight back against overwhelming odds.

From the Outbreak Settings screen, you can change any of the following parameters:

- Map location (choose from 10 maps across the world)
- Initial zombie numbers
- Zombie outbreak direction (N, E, S, W, Map Wide)
- Infection rate (time taken for infected civs to turn into zombies)
- Zombie speed
- Number of police
- Police accuracy
- Civilian numbers
- Civilian armed %
- Civilian accuracy

Sustainability, Vol. 4, Pages 917-932: Land Use Adaptation to Climate Change: Economic Damages from Land-Falling Hurricanes in the Atlantic and Gulf States of the USA, 1900–2005

Posted: 07 May 2012 12:00 AM PDT

Global climate change, especially the phenomena of global warming, is expected to increase the intensity of land-falling hurricanes. Societal adaptation is needed to reduce vulnerability from increasingly intense hurricanes. This study quantifies the adaptation effects of potentially policy driven caps on housing densities and agricultural cover in coastal (and adjacent inland) areas vulnerable to hurricane damages in the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal regions of the U.S. Time series regressions, especially Prais-Winston and Autoregressive Moving Average (ARMA) models, are estimated to forecast the economic impacts of hurricanes of varying intensity, given that various patterns of land use emerge in the Atlantic and Gulf coastal states of the U.S. The Prais-Winston and ARMA models use observed time series data from 1900 to 2005 for inflation adjusted hurricane damages and socio-economic and land-use data in the coastal or inland regions where hurricanes caused those damages. The results from this study provide evidence that increases in housing density and agricultural cover cause significant rise in the de-trended inflation-adjusted damages. Further, higher intensity and frequency of land-falling hurricanes also significantly increase the economic damages. The evidence from this study implies that a medium to long term land use adaptation in the form of capping housing density and agricultural cover in the coastal (and adjacent inland) states can significantly reduce economic damages from intense hurricanes. Future studies must compare the benefits of such land use adaptation policies against the costs of development controls implied in housing density caps and agricultural land cover reductions.

Forests, Vol. 3, Pages 207-229: Do Anthropogenic Dark Earths Occur in the Interior of Borneo? Some Initial Observations from East Kalimantan

Posted: 07 May 2012 12:00 AM PDT

Anthropogenic soils of the Amazon Basin (Terra Preta, Terra Mulata) reveal that pre-Colombian peoples made lasting improvements in the agricultural potential of nutrient-poor soils. Some have argued that applying similar techniques could improve agriculture over much of the humid tropics, enhancing local livelihoods and food security, while also sequestering large quantities of carbon to mitigate climate change. Here, we present preliminary evidence for Anthropogenic Dark Earths (ADEs) in tropical Asia. Our surveys in East Kalimantan (Indonesian Borneo) identified several sites where soils possess an anthropogenic development and context similar in several respects to the Amazon's ADEs. Similarities include riverside locations, presence of useful fruit trees, spatial extent as well as soil characteristics such as dark color, high carbon content (in some cases), high phosphorus levels, and improved apparent fertility in comparison to neighboring soils. Local people value these soils for cultivation but are unaware of their origins. We discuss these soils in the context of local history and land-use and identify numerous unknowns. Incomplete biomass burning appears key to these modified soils. More study is required to clarify soil transformations in Borneo and to determine under what circumstances such soil improvements might remain ongoing.

Ubisoft registers Avengers domain - Report

Posted: 06 May 2012 11:52 PM PDT

Fusible is reporting that Ubisoft has registered the domain name "avengersbattleforearth.com"; a domain registered before The Avengers film release in the United States.

 

Ubisoft may be developing a console version of the recently released Marvel film The Avengers, according to a domain name spotted by Fusible this week.

The site reported that the domain name "avengersbattleforearth.com" was registered on May 3, 2012 (a day before the film's release in the United States), through the brand-protection company MarkMonitor. According to Fusible, the domain name was registered by Marvel Characters Inc, but is currently listed on Ubisoft servers.

Speculation of a video game adaptation of Marvel's The Avengers began with the news last September that THQ's now-defunct studio, THQ Studio Australia, had been working on an unannounced game based on the Joss Whedon film.

Marvel later announced that it had taken back the rights to the game, based on its Avengers intellectual property, and would be "exploring potential publishing and licensing opportunities".

As far as video game outings go, the Avengers have previously been featured in 1996's Data East arcade fighter Avengers: Galactic Storm, as well as the 1991 arcade beat-'em-up Captain America and the Avengers, which received a number of console ports in the following years. Individually, the main characters of the Joss Whedon film--Captain America, Thor, the Hulk, and Iron Man--have all starred in their own feature films and accompanying game adaptations, in recent years.

However, the only current video game based on Whedon's The Avengers is Marvel Pinball: Avengers Chronicles for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation Vita. The downloadable content for the Xbox 360's Pinball FX 2 and the PS3's Marvel Pinball features a four pack of new pinball tables and a virtual machine based on the film. It will be released this spring.

Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot

"Ubisoft registers Avengers domain - Report" was posted by Laura Parker on Sun, 06 May 2012 23:52:41 -0700

League of Legends players banned for exploit

Posted: 06 May 2012 11:29 PM PDT

Riot Games bans players from its freemium action real-time strategy game for cheating.

 

League of Legends developer Riot Games has taken action against a number of players caught taking advantage of an exploit in the popular online title.

Posting on the official League of Legends Community page, Riot's community manager told players that the developer had identified the exploit, fixed it, and tracked down all of the players who had taken advantage of it in the game.

"If you've been playing online games for any length of time, you probably know that most games eventually have to deal with scum-of-the-earth cheaters that enjoy ruining your experience," the community manager posted. "That's bull****, and we're not going to allow it. I'm happy to report that the immediate fix has been implemented, and we'll be restarting all regions this evening to add some redundancy, which will prevent similar exploits in the future. We've identified all of the players that have been using this exploit, and we're going to be taking firm action against their accounts."

The exploit--known as the "mastery exploit"--allowed players to add more skill points than would otherwise be allowed, giving them the ability to cast spells consecutively, without any cool-down time.

Riot also declared that it is currently discussing methods to increase its monitoring of the game, to ensure future exploits are dealt with efficiently.

"We have comprehensive logs and data that allow us to see precisely who did what; and also who was negatively affected by this malicious behaviour. This kind of stuff is unacceptable, and will never be tolerated by Riot Games."

Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot

"League of Legends players banned for exploit" was posted by Laura Parker on Sun, 06 May 2012 23:29:06 -0700

Hero Mages

Posted: 06 May 2012 10:39 AM PDT

Platform: iOS, Android, Flash — Hero Mages Do you have what it takes to be a real Hero Mage? This turn-based, tactical strategy game brings the feel of tabletop RPG combat to your mobile device or browser. Take control of a small group of heroes on their battle-ridden path to victory over darkness in the realm of Papillion. It's like a tabletop game in your pocket! Tagged as: android, demo, flash, game, ios, ipad, iphone, kindle, mobile, nook, rating-y, strategy, tablet, tactical, turnbased

World Series of Poker Circuit Harrah's Philadelphia Day 1: Overton Leads, Mascagni Chasing

Posted: 07 May 2012 02:54 AM PDT

On Day 1 of the World Series of Poker Circuit Harrah's Philadelphia Main Event , 312 players took to the felt, split across two starting flights.

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Nanomaterials, Vol. 2, Pages 134-146: Iron Oxide Nanocrystals for Magnetic Hyperthermia Applications

Posted: 07 May 2012 12:00 AM PDT

Magnetic nanocrystals have been investigated extensively in the past several years for several potential applications, such as information technology, MRI contrast agents, and for drug conjugation and delivery. A specific property of interest in biomedicine is magnetic hyperthermia—an increase in temperature resulting from the thermal energy released by magnetic nanocrystals in an external alternating magnetic field. Iron oxide nanocrystals of various sizes and morphologies were synthesized and tested for specific losses (heating power) using frequencies of 111.1 kHz and 629.2 kHz, and corresponding magnetic field strengths of 9 and 25 mT. Polymorphous nanocrystals as well as spherical nanocrystals and nanowires in paramagnetic to ferromagnetic size range exhibited good heating power. A remarkable 30 °C temperature increase was observed in a nanowire sample at 111 kHz and magnetic field of 25 mT (19.6 kA/m), which is very close to the typical values of 100 kHz and 20 mT used in medical treatments.

Entropy, Vol. 14, Pages 856-864: A Comment on the Relation between Diffraction and Entropy

Posted: 07 May 2012 12:00 AM PDT

Diffraction methods are used to detect atomic order in solids. While uniquely ergodic systems with pure point diffraction have zero entropy, the relation between diffraction and entropy is not as straightforward in general. In particular, there exist families of homometric systems, which are systems sharing the same diffraction, with varying entropy. We summarise the present state of understanding by several characteristic examples.

Materials, Vol. 5, Pages 784-817: Semiconductor CdF2:Ga and CdF2:In Crystals as Media for Real-Time Holography

Posted: 07 May 2012 12:00 AM PDT

Monocrystalline cadmium fluoride is a dielectric solid that can be converted into a semiconductor by doping with donor impurities and subsequent heating in the reduction atmosphere. For two donor elements, Ga and In, the donor ("shallow") state is a metastable one separated from the ground ("deep") state by a barrier. Photoinduced deep-to-shallow state transition underlies the photochromism of CdF2:Ga and CdF2:In. Real-time phase holograms are recorded in these crystals capable of following up optical processes in a wide frequency range. The features of photochromic transformations in CdF2:Ga and CdF2:In crystals as well as holographic characteristics of these media are discussed. Exemplary applications of CdF2-based holographic elements are given.

World in War - Screenshots

Posted: 07 May 2012 03:42 AM PDT

FEATURES:
- Online multiplayer
- Three Campaigns
- 13 historically inspired scenarios
- Realistic region based maps
- Hotseat multiplayer using one device
- Many of hours of gameplay
- Infantry, tanks, artillery and ships as units
- Bunkers, paratroopers, airstrikes and other strategies

DTM: Spengler Earns BMW's First Win On Series Return

Posted: 06 May 2012 12:00 AM PDT


Driving the BMW M3 DTM, Bruno Spengler won the second DTM round of the year at Lausitzring, the first DTM race win for BMW in 20 years.

Insects, Vol. 3, Pages 473-491: Shared Ancestry of Symbionts? Sagrinae and Donaciinae (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) Harbor Similar Bacteria

Posted: 07 May 2012 12:00 AM PDT

When symbioses between insects and bacteria are discussed, the origin of a given association is regularly of interest. We examined the evolution of the symbiosis between reed beetles (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Donaciinae) and intracellular symbionts belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae. We analyzed the partial sequence of the 16S rRNA to assess the phylogenetic relationships with bacteria we found in other beetle groups (Cerambycidae, Anobiidae, other Chrysomelidae). We discuss the ecology of each association in the context of the phylogenetic analysis. The bacteria in Sagra femorata (Chrysomelidae, Sagrinae) are very closely related to those in the Donaciinae and are located in similar mycetomes. The Sagrinae build a cocoon for pupation like the Donaciinae, in which the bacteria produce the material required for the cocoon. These aspects support the close relationship between Sagrinae and Donaciinae derived in earlier studies and make a common ancestry of the symbioses likely. Using PCR primers specific for fungi, we found Candida sp. in the mycetomes of a cerambycid beetle along with the bacteria.

Insects, Vol. 3, Pages 453-472: What is Next in Bark Beetle Phylogeography?

Posted: 07 May 2012 12:00 AM PDT

Bark beetle species within the scolytid genera Dendroctonus, Ips, Pityogenes and Tomicus are known to cause extensive ecological and economical damage in spruce and pine forests during epidemic outbreaks all around the world. Dendroctonus ponderosae poses the most recent example having destroyed almost 100,000 km2 of conifer forests in North America. The success and effectiveness of scolytid species lies mostly in strategies developed over the course of time. Among these, a complex system of semiochemicals promotes the communication and aggregation on the spot of infestation facilitating an en masse attack against a host tree's defenses; or an association with fungi that evolved either in the form of nutrition (ambrosia fungi) or even by reducing the resistance of host trees (blue-stain fungi). Although often specific to a tree genus or species, some bark beetles are polyphagous and have the ability to switch on to new hosts and extend their host range (i.e., between conifer genera such as Pityogenes chalcographus or even from conifer to deciduous trees as Polygraphus grandiclava). A combination of these capabilities in concert with life history or ecological traits explains why bark beetles are considered interesting subjects in evolutionary studies. Several bark beetle species appear in phylogeographic investigations, in an effort to improve our understanding of their ecology, epidemiology and evolution. In this paper investigations that unveil the phylogeographic history of bark beetles are reviewed. A close association between refugial areas and postglacial migration routes that insects and host trees have followed in the last 15,000 BP has been suggested in many studies. Finally, a future perspective of how next generation sequencing will influence the resolution of phylogeographic patterns in the coming years is presented. Utilization of such novel techniques will provide a more detailed insight into the genome of scolytids facilitating at the same time the application of neutral and non-neutral markers. The latter markers in particular promise to enhance the study of eco-physiological reaction types like the so-called pioneer beetles or obligate diapausing individuals.

Nutrients, Vol. 4, Pages 356-371: The Adverse Effects of Alcohol on Vitamin A Metabolism

Posted: 07 May 2012 12:00 AM PDT

The objective of this review is to explore the relationship between alcohol and the metabolism of the essential micronutrient, vitamin A; as well as the impact this interaction has on alcohol-induced disease in adults. Depleted hepatic vitamin A content has been reported in human alcoholics, an observation that has been confirmed in animal models of chronic alcohol consumption. Indeed, alcohol consumption has been associated with declines in hepatic levels of retinol (vitamin A), as well as retinyl ester and retinoic acid; collectively referred to as retinoids. Through the use of animal models, the complex interplay between alcohol metabolism and vitamin A homeostasis has been studied; the reviewed research supports the notion that chronic alcohol consumption precipitates a decline in hepatic retinoid levels through increased breakdown, as well as increased export to extra-hepatic tissues. While the precise biochemical mechanisms governing alcohol's effect remain to be elucidated, its profound effect on hepatic retinoid status is irrefutable. In addition to a review of the literature related to studies on tissue retinoid levels and the metabolic interactions between alcohol and retinoids, the significance of altered hepatic retinoid metabolism in the context of alcoholic liver disease is also considered.

Cancers, Vol. 4, Pages 504-522: Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors in Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1

Posted: 07 May 2012 12:00 AM PDT

We reviewed the literature about entero-pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors in Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia type 1 syndrome (MEN1) to clarify their demographic features, localization imaging, practice, and appropriate therapeutical strategies, analyzing the current approach to entero-pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors in MEN1. Despite the fact that hyperparathyroidism is usually the first manifestation of MEN1, the penetrance of these tumors is similar. They are characterized by multiplicity of lesions, variable expression of the tumors, and propensity for malignant degeneration. Both the histological type and the size of MEN1 neuroendocrine tumors correlate with malignancy. Monitoring of pancreatic peptides and use of imaging exams allow early diagnosis and prompt surgical treatment, resulting in prevention of metastatic disease and improvement of long-term survival. Surgery is often the treatment of choice for MEN1-neuroendocrine tumors. The rationale for surgical approach is to curtail malignant progression of the disease, and to cure the associated biochemical syndrome, should it be present.

Cells, Vol. 1, Pages 89-99: Distinguishing Latent from Active Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection Using Elispot Assays: Looking Beyond Interferon-gamma

Posted: 07 May 2012 12:00 AM PDT

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) is a global heath epidemic, its threat amplified by HIV infection and the emergence of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). Interferon (IFN)-gamma release assays (IGRAs) have improved the accuracy of detection of MTB exposure in some subject groups as compared to the Tuberculin Skin Test (TST). However, as IFN-gamma is produced by both fully rested and more recently activated populations of memory T cells, it is not surprising that the measurement of this cytokine alone cannot accurately distinguish Latent TB Infected (LTBI) subjects from those with active (infectious) disease. Accurate and rapid diagnosis of infectious individuals would allow medication to be properly allocated and other actions taken to more effectively curtail MTB spread. Analysis of multi-cytokine profiles ex vivo after stimulation of PBMCs from LTBI and active MTB subjects indicate the real possibility of successfully discerning these two disease states within 24 hours of a subject's blood draw. Due to the unparalleled sensitivity, low cost, and ease of use of Elispot assays, we propose that via a multiplex Elispot platform the accurate distinction of LTBI from active MTB-infected individuals is within reach.

Cells, Vol. 1, Pages 74-88: Immunohistochemistry of Programmed Cell Death in Archival Human Pathology Specimens

Posted: 07 May 2012 12:00 AM PDT

Immunohistochemistry (IHC) for detecting key signal molecules involved in programmed cell death (PCD) in archival human pathology specimens is fairly well established. Detection of cleaved caspase-3 in lymphocytes in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and gastric surface foveolar glandular epithelia but not in synoviocytes in RA, gastric fundic glandular epithelia, or nasal NK/T-cell lymphoma (NKTCL) cells suggests anti-apoptotic mechanisms in cell differentiation and in oncogenesis such as the induction of survivin. Enzymatically pretreated and ultra-super sensitive detection of beclin-1 in synoviocytes in RA and gastric fundic glandular epithelia suggests enhanced autophagy. The deposition of beclin-1 in fibrinoid necrosis in RA and expression of beclin-1 in detached gastric fundic glandular cells suggest that enhanced autophagy undergoes autophagic cell death (ACD). NKTCL exhibited enhanced autophagy through LC3 labeling and showed densely LC3 labeled cell-debris in regions of peculiar necrosis without deposition of beclin-1, indicating massive ACD in NKTCL and the alternative pathway enhancing autophagy following autophagic vesicle nucleation. Autophagy progression was monitored by labeling aggregated mitochondria and cathepsin D. The cell-debris in massive ACD in NKTCL were positive for 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine, suggesting DNA oxidation occurred in ACD. Immunohistochemical autophagy and PCD analysis in archival human pathology specimens may offer new insights into autophagy in humans.

Marine Drugs, Vol. 10, Pages 1037-1043: Antibacterial Secondary Metabolites from the Cave Sponge Xestospongia sp.

Posted: 07 May 2012 12:00 AM PDT

Chemical investigation of the cave sponge Xestospongia sp. resulted in the isolation of three new polyacetylenic long chain compounds along with two known metabolites. The structures of the new metabolites were established by NMR and MS analyses. The antibacterial activity of the new metabolites was also evaluated.
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